How to perform a reverse phone number lookup

In an age of constant communication, getting calls or messages from unknown numbers is common. A reverse phone number lookup can help you identify the caller — whether it’s a wrong number, potential scam, or someone you want to reconnect with.

What is reverse phone number lookup?

A reverse phone lookup lets you search a phone number to find details like the caller’s name, location, and sometimes social media profiles or emails. It’s useful for verifying businesses, screening unwanted calls, or finding lost contacts.

Free options

1. Google search: Enter the phone number in quotes (e.g., “123-456-7890”) to find listings, social profiles, or forum mentions.
2. Online directories: Use free directories such as Whitepages or community-based tools like TrueCaller to check location or carrier information.
3. Social media: Search the number on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram — many people list contact info in profiles.

Subscription-based services

If free tools come up short, paid services can provide deeper reports from public records and social networks. Typical options include:

• Spokeo: Aggregates social network and public-record data; subscription required for full reports.
• Intelius: Covers landlines, mobile and VoIP with detailed reports; offers pay-per-lookup and packages.
• BeenVerified: Background-check service that returns detailed reports, social links and more for subscribers.

How to use a lookup service

1. Choose free vs paid depending on needed detail.
2. Enter the phone number (include country code if needed).
3. Review results — you may see name, location, carrier, and social profiles.
4. For paid services, you can often access address history, criminal records, and more.

Things to keep in mind

• Not all numbers are listed — private network or internal numbers often won’t appear.
• Accuracy varies — free tools can be incomplete or outdated.
• Privacy — some services require your contact details or log your searches. Check privacy policies before using them.

Originally published on Engadget.

Note: This post summarizes methods and services for reverse phone lookups. Always use these tools responsibly and respect privacy laws in your jurisdiction.